CHAP. vj. SCRIPTURAL BASIS OF RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES. 159 



enjoin the avowal of such as make profession of their 

 faith, and the uniting in fellowship for commemorating that 

 ordinance whereby the disciples of the Lord Jesus do show 

 forth his death till He come, they had been accustomed in 

 more than one locality to follow as closely as possible the 

 few simple and affecting directions of the Saviour himself, 

 and the illustration of those given by the great apostle of the 

 Grentiles. They had, I was informed, at times found a dif- 

 ficulty -with regard to the elements to be used ; but, so far as 

 their circumstances admitted, they had followed, as their safe 

 and unerring guide, the Word of inspired Truth. If, in 

 relation to any of these subjects, they had not observed all 

 that may be taught in the New Testament, they had added 

 nothing thereunto. Nothing traceable to the latent influence 

 of idolatry, or commended by imaginary fitness or advantage, 

 had, so far as I heard, been introduced, but they had been 

 content in these and other matters to adhere to the written 

 Word ; only too thankful when permitted peacefully to do so. 

 I was informed that, although they knew the peril to which 

 they were exposed, they had been accustomed to listen to 

 the words of instruction and encouragement, to sing the 

 praise of the Divine Eedeemer, and to draw near the mercy- 

 seat in prayer. These simple services were held not only 

 in the habitations of men, though chiefly at the midnight 

 hour, but also on the distant mountain's side, in the dreary 

 cavern, or in the concealment of the remote and almost im- 

 pervious forest. 



Love of life, and nature's first great impulse, self-preserva- 

 tion, had induced such gatherings as these, because their creed 

 and their conduct had been declared by the government to 

 be criminal and injurious to the nation. There did not, 

 however, appear to have been the slightest foundation for 

 any such conclusion, so far as the sentiments or the conduct 

 of the Christians had been concerned. Many had been the 



